One of Holden’s Grails
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar
The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar (345.033 E) is a complication watch from A. Lange & Söhne: a 41.9 mm 18-carat pink gold case, 12.1 mm thick, with an L021.3 movement and 30 m water resistance.
Its lug-to-lug length is unknown, so wrist fit can only be judged from the 41.9 mm case width.
Research found it at about $95,000–125,000 on the street (September 2026) and about $95,000–110,000 used (September 2026).
This one is pure dream. It's here because it's about as good as watchmaking gets, not because I'm buying it.
Specifications
From the research, with the sources for each group of facts. Unknown means no source confirmed it.
| The watch [1][2][3][4] | |
|---|---|
| Brand | A. Lange & Söhne |
| Reference | 345.033 E |
| Category | Complication |
| Production | In production (introduced 2021) |
| Case and size [1][3][5][4][6][7] | |
| Case diameter | 41.9 mm |
| Lug to lug | Unknown |
| Thickness | 12.1 mm |
| Lug width | Unknown |
| Case material | 18-carat pink gold (750) |
| Crystal | Sapphire crystal front and back |
| Water resistance | 3 bar (30 m) |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Movement [1][2][3][5][4] | |
| Movement | L021.3, Self-winding mechanical with lever escapement |
| Power reserve | 50 hours |
| Accuracy | Precision-adjusted in five positions; no published rate specification |
| Bracelet [1][3][5][4][2] | |
| Bracelet or strap | Reddish-brown alligator leather strap (CITES farmed alligator mississippiensis) with 18k pink gold prong (tang) buckle |
| Clasp | 18k pink gold prong (tang) buckle |
| Price and warranty (US) [2][3][1][8][9][6][7][10] | |
| List price (US) | Unknown |
| Street price (US) | ~$95,000–$125,000 across 16 Chrono24 listings (2022–2025 production examples); unworn, box-and-papers examples offered via gray dealers… (September 2026) |
| Used price (US) | ~$95,000–$110,000 — CPO example asked at CHF 87,600 (approx. US$105,000 conversion, Geneva Watch Co); a 2023 like-new box-and-papers… (September 2026) |
| Warranty | Factory warranty duration not stated in sources read; dealer warranties vary (Gotham 1-year; Geneva Watch Co 24-month on CPO) |
Will it fit?
The research didn’t find a sourced lug-to-lug length for this watch, so the fit can’t be estimated here. If you can measure one, try it in the wrist-fit tool.
What the research found
These are the research’s judgments, scored against Holden’s priorities, not his own words.
Strengths
- Perpetual calendar integrated into the Lange 1's golden-ratio asymmetric layout — a display long thought impossible for this dial; the peripheral month ring preserves the original 38.5mm-equivalent dial proportions inside a 41.9mm case
- All calendar indications jump instantaneously at midnight — spring-loaded cam tripping a grand lever; fun, precise, and rare at any price
- Calibre L021.3 is a deep re-engineering, not a module: direct-drive seconds, new unidirectional winding click, wave-form month track replacing the 48-month wheel, 3-part platinum/21k-gold/ARCAP rotor
- Movement finishing at the top of series production: hand-engraved balance cock, anglage with inward angles, blued screws in gold chatons, perlage, hand-frosted rotor (SJX: Lange continues to do better than its own previous flagships)
- Grey-dial pink gold is a signature Lange combination that Hodinkee judged 'the perfect balance of traditional and contemporary' — should age well aesthetically
- Unusually for a Lange dress piece, hands/markers/seconds track are luminous
Weaknesses
- 41.9mm x 12.1mm and heavy — SJX calls the dimensions those of a sports chronograph for a formally-styled complication; size driven by the movement
- Flat hairspring rather than overcoil (height constraint under the rotor) — SJX's main technical deduction at this price
- Red '4' leap-year numeral is the only red on the dial and over-promotes a rarely needed indication (SJX critique)
- Calendar setting relies on traditional recessed caseband correctors — no novel quick-set solution
- 3 bar water resistance and alligator strap: dress-piece limitations, no quick-release documented
- Current retail is 'price upon request' with prices raised since the $104,500 launch — new-buyer value is opaque
Research scores, 0 to 10
| Execution and feel in the hand | 9.5 |
|---|---|
| Design identity | 9.5 |
| Value at a realistic price | 6.5 |
| Long-term ownership | 8.5 |
| Movement and engineering | 9.5 |
| Wearability and proportions | 6.0 |
| Versatility and durability | 7.0 |
| Fit with Holden's collection | 8.5 |
Also on Holden’s list
Other complication watches on his list.
- Longines Master Collection Chrono Moonphase L2.962.4.73.6
- Rolex Sky-Dweller 42 336938
- Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow C01-40AMP2-S00K0-VK1
- Tudor 1926 Luna 91560
- Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve L1.648.4.78.2
Sources
- LANGE 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR in 750 pink gold — Reference 345.033 E alange-soehne.com · read September 3, 2026
- Introducing: The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar hodinkee.com · read September 3, 2026
- Introducing - The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar (Price) monochrome-watches.com · read September 3, 2026
- In-Depth: A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar (sans Tourbillon) watchesbysjx.com · read September 3, 2026
- Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar - now sans tourbillon - the comprehensive review deployant.com · read September 3, 2026
- A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar 345.033 18k Pink Gold 2023 (Stock 50609, SOLD) europeanwatch.com · read September 3, 2026
- A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar 345.033 E 41.9mm Grey Dial (Unworn) gothamtradingny.com · read September 3, 2026
- A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Ref. 345.033 — Watches on Chrono24 chrono24.com · read September 3, 2026
- A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar 18k Pink Gold 345.033 — CPO genevawatchco.com · read September 3, 2026
- The New Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar In Platinum And A Brief History Of Platinum At Lange hodinkee.com · read September 3, 2026
Personal research, not a source of truth. Spotted an error? Email a correction.